Charity grant gets villagers online

Villagers in Grain will be learning how to use Skype and Facebook thanks to a donation from mhs homes’ community charity.

The £950 Community Chest grant was made to UJ Community Partnership, which runs computer courses entitled Access for All at The Old Chapel, in Chapel Road. It will fund broadband connection and security measures for a year to enable the group to offer the weekly lessons.

The classes are open to all Grain residents who want to know how to send emails, use social network sites and software packages. It aims to improve IT skills for existing computer users as well as introducing older residents to the benefits of being online.

Veronica Cordier, who runs the classes, said take-up of places had been good in the eight years the scheme has been going. She said: "It is very important for us as quite an isolated rural community to have broadband internet use in a central place in the village. Not everyone has a computer at home and there are a lot of older people here whose families live a distance away, but who can now keep in touch.Having confidence in technology means people can use it for shopping, contact friends among other things. "eeting together in a central place also creates friendships within our small community. Without this facility we would be lost."

Among residents who have benefitted from computer courses is Pat McLaughlan, 69, who has learned how to use video-conferencing facility Skype. Pat can now stay in touch with friends in Cape Town, South Africa. She said: "It’s wonderful, you can see who you are talking to and what’s going on in real time. It’s a lovely way to keep in touch with everyone. We have also used the computers to make Christmas cards and all sorts of things. We would all miss the computers now if we couldn’t have them."

Geoff Waters, chair of mhs community charity, said: "We are really pleased to be able to support this worthwhile project as developing IT skills is an important feature of modern day living and we want to support opportunities to make access available to all."

mhs homes Community Chest

The Community Chest grant is a funding stream open to individuals and groups who encourage involvement in community activities by providing projects in areas where mhs homes owns or manages homes.

We particularly welcome applications which support activities and services for children, young people and older people. The results should lead to greater community involvement, more vibrant and cohesive communities, local regeneration and encourage residents to become empowered and take an active part in their communities.

mhs homes will fund:

• New projects that are starting up
• Existing groups to expand their activities
• Organisations working with hard to reach groups

Anyone who would like an application form can contact the mhs homes Customer Contact Team on 01634 565333.